MathLabs

Problem 2

A prism with pentagons A1A2A3A4A5A_1A_2A_3A_4A_5 and B1B2B3B4B5B_1B_2B_3B_4B_5 as top and bottom faces is given. Each side of the two pentagons and each segment AiBjA_iB_j is colored red or green. Every triangle whose vertices are vertices of the prism and whose sides have all been colored has two sides of different colors. Prove that all 10 sides of the top and bottom faces have the same color.
Step 4 of 4: Show the two monochromatic colors agree
A1Bi,A2Bj share a green edgeA_1B_i,A_2B_j\text{ share a green edge}
Detailed analysis

Suppose the upper edges are green and the lower edges red. At A1, at least three cross-edges must be green: if three were red, two corresponding Bi would be adjacent and form a red triangle with A1. The same holds at A2, so two sets of three green cross-edges in a five-element set intersect. A common Bi would make the green triangle A1A2Bi, contradiction.